Chapter 2739

"For a long time, the strategy adopted by the United States has been to separate superheroes from ordinary people. I don't mean geographically isolating them, but rather separating them on a societal level," Shiler said.

"It's like two actors on stage, one playing the savior, the other playing the one being saved. The savior must perform well, and the one being saved must also perform well, but no matter how well they perform, the bond between the two actors isn't that tight."

"Although one performing poorly might affect the other, they are essentially on equal footing—one cannot decide the other's fate, and they are in a state where neither can do anything about the other."

"Although it seems equal, this is not a healthy state." Shiler shook his head and said: "It might even create a vicious cycle—if one performs poorly, it drags down the other, and the other then wants to retaliate on the next stage, dragging the first down as well, leading both sides into a downward spiral, getting worse and worse."

"The way to improve this state is to completely change their relationship, or even completely change the attribute of one party, so that he stops being an actor and becomes an audience member instead."

"In the past, the public could only follow the script, or rather, when facing superheroes and disasters, the public were inherently weak and indeed needed help, especially individuals, who needed superheroes to look after them even more."

"But now, the public can exercise their rights in another way, in a way they are good at—public opinion is their power distinct from force, but sometimes it can be even more lethal than force."

"This will achieve a kind of balance between them and the superheroes' power—if you use your power well, I will use mine well; and if you dare to abuse it, don't blame me for not following the rules in using mine."

"So placing the public in the audience seats, letting them judge superheroes' actions instead of passively accepting them, will let them regain some initiative and effectively reduce their panic."

"Many people fear superheroes, assuming these superheroes will eventually become criminals, precisely because they actually lack the power to resist superheroes—they have never resisted, never known that the other side also gets hurt and bleeds, so their persecution complex is especially strong, ultimately evolving into panic."

"This panic also harms superheroes, because some of them have always been doing good deeds, yet constantly face baseless suspicion, even unreasonable attacks and insults, which is unfair to them."

"Alleviating people's panic is not just about shouting through a loudspeaker that superheroes won't turn bad—it's about giving them weapons, as the saying goes, 'power grows out of the barrel of a gun.'"

"They must know that once united, they can supervise and punish these lofty heroes through another means, and heroes who do wrong will also be judged by them, so they won't assume all superheroes are wicked villagers out to harm them."

"But public opinion cannot be controlled," Coulson said: "What if someone maliciously manipulates this power to harm superheroes?"

"Superheroes aren't mute," Shiler said: "We cannot assume either side is necessarily a complete victim. The public can judge, and superheroes can naturally appeal. Don't forget we're in the information age—even a second-rate, not-so-famous superhero would have at least millions of fans online."

Coulson thought for a moment, agreed, but then couldn't help worrying about another issue: he said, "What if a superhero uses their own fans to cyberbully someone else..."

"Aren't there other superheroes then?" Shiler said: "Are you worried that, by coincidence, all superheroes would suddenly go mad and manipulate public opinion to attack each other at the same time?"

Just as Coulson was about to deny it, he heard Shiler say: "Actually, it's not impossible—I feel Tony and Shi Difen could pull something like that off; sooner or later they'll go live and have a PK battle."

"But no system in this world is perfect. I'm only proposing a more balanced possibility. Next, we shouldn't focus on where this system is wrong, but rather consider whether our current power is sufficient to tolerate faults."

"In my view, arguing in court or engaging in online public opinion battles should be far better than this group fighting at an airport or similar—what do you think?"

Coulson thought carefully and agreed it made sense.

"Many people strongly oppose fan culture, but opposing it back and forth hasn't seen any iron fist come down. The fundamental reason is that venting all energy in online arguments is better than real-world violence offline, right?"

"Sure, someone might say, not fighting online doesn't mean they won't fight offline—you can only say not to underestimate human impulsiveness and hormone levels. Since ancient times, categories like sports and arts have developed precisely to consume people's energy—don't tease the cat during the day, or the cat will tease you at night."

"Even if only one out of ten thousand people channels their original urge to go out and slash someone into online arguments instead, it's not a loss—it counts as the internet benefiting humanity."

"Superheroes are the same—let them get addicted to short videos, or find ways to gain online fame and public admiration. That's better than them idling around all day and starting internal wars. Even if they organize fans to fight online, no one could possibly beat someone to a bloody head over an internet cable."

"Real-world war and online war—anyone with a bit of sense would choose the latter: it doesn't use medical resources, doesn't cause property loss. If the online environment is bad, so be it—the world needs a dumping ground."

Coulson grasped this idea and thought the plan was brilliant. He could hardly wait to see Stark and Shi Difen insult each other online—much better than watching them fight like roosters in reality. He didn't want to be dragged out of bed at 3 a. m. by a phone call to go to the superhero court to judge them.

Then Coulson suddenly had a flash of insight—he discovered the hidden and mysterious connection among this chain of events.

About half a year ago, the superhero court system was basically established, or rather, the strongest few superheroes, even the Asgardians, pressed these superheroes into accepting this rule, even mutants were included—just imagine how difficult that was.

Many superheroes actually held the thought: I couldn't do as I pleased before becoming a superhero, and after becoming one I still couldn't do as I pleased—so wasn't I just a superhero in vain?

Unfortunately, they were born at the wrong time. Nick with iron fists and iron will, iron-hearted, united several strongest superheroes to set this rule, after which superheroes also had their own Dao, ordinary people becoming superheroes merely moved from one rule-bound society to another.

That is, about half a year ago, Peter stopped appearing frequently. By rights he's a good old man who never littered a single piece of paper in his life—whether or not a court was established had nothing to do with him—but after the new rules were set up, he dove into the lab and hasn't been seen much since.

Next came Nick's proposal for crisis drills, which has been basically successful so far. Don't look at unexpected incidents causing chaos they hadn't anticipated, but in rescue efforts, politicians and scientists from various countries have at least not embarrassed themselves—basically completed successfully, even said to be quite excellent.

This at least proves that without superheroes, they can still self-rescue—the ordinary people's system is beginning to decouple from the superhero system.

Then came the Mysterious Guest incident—Jameson, boss of the Daily Bugle who had long watched Spider-Man, because Spider-Man hadn't appeared for too long, and due to the suspicious space station incident, turned his attention to the Mysterious Guest team.

Clearly, a series of events are linked one after another—first establish laws and regulations, build a superhero society, then let the superhero society decouple from ordinary people's society.

Next, dispatch a representative from the superhero society—if nothing unexpected happens, the next step should be trial.

As Shiler said earlier, he wants the public to realize they also have a special weapon to judge superheroes—that is public opinion.

Coulson gradually understood everything and said: "So Jameson is the one you brought over—he's the sword-wielding representative of ordinary citizens, and Mysterious Guest is the superhero about to be beheaded off his horse?"

"When do you plan to promote to Level 9 agent?" Shiler praised vaguely: "Perhaps you could even be promoted directly to Level 10."

Coulson didn't care—he was just satisfying his curiosity and asked: "Is Mysterious Guest also arranged by you? How did you manipulate him?"

Shiler shook his head and said: "Originally it wasn't him, but the Sandman—after all, he once rolled from the East Coast to the West Coast, causing quite a stir. When I treated him before, I had already agreed with him, never expecting Beck to stick out a leg and trip him—poor guy."

"So Sophia isn't arranged by you, and the mysterious funding isn't from you either?"

"I have no need to lie to you," Shiler said: "If it were me, I wouldn't let the funds go through Hong Kong—you wouldn't really think a place that relies on the mainland for fresh water has a truly independent financial system, would you? If the God Spear Bureau found out and caught the mastermind, how much blood do you think Nick would have to shed to extradite her?"

Coulson sucked in a breath of cold air, then said doubtfully: "No way? They're busy now, they probably don't have the time to..."

"Don't forget—now the whole world wants them to take the blame." Shiler pointed out the key: "If another organization discovers unexplained funds flowing from Hong Kong supporting the mastermind behind the space station crash, then they'll take the blame. To avoid it, what can't they uncover? Who can't they catch?"

Coulson's heart sank further—he knew Shiler was right. The space station crash blame is huge—almost equivalent to betraying all humanity. Any of the five permanent members couldn't bear it, and to shift the blame, the Big Five Evils would do anything.

Once the God Spear Bureau realizes the funds flowing from Hong Kong might make them take the blame, they'll dig three feet deep to catch the mastermind.

But the problem is, once they catch the mastermind, they'll inevitably learn about Sophia and Beck's affairs—these two are true-blue Americans under the Stars and Stripes—wouldn't that mean the U. S. also takes the blame?

Congress would definitely not take this blame—so when the time comes, whose head will it land on? Still not S. H. I. E. L. D., right?

Coulson jumped up instantly, rushed out the door, and left behind: "Please, Doctor, don't make too big a mess before we settle this—I don't want to be demoted to Level 6!"

After Coulson left, Shiler smiled. At that moment, his phone rang—Peter's voice came from the other end.

"The upgraded special effects equipment and Stark Group's drones are ready, Doctor—when does the performance start?"

"No rush—Beck isn't a match for Jameson, but hearing is believing, seeing is real. How could you not let your sharp old rival see with his own eyes how fake Mysterious Guest is?"